DIGGING INTO PROPERTY EASEMENTS—ANYONE ELSE FIND ONLINE TOOLS CONFUSING?
I hear you on the scavenger hunt vibe, but I’ll push back a little on the idea that the online stuff is totally useless. I’ve actually had some luck with county GIS maps—at least as a starting point. They’re not gospel, but they usually get me in the ballpark, especially for bigger easements or obvious setbacks. The trick is knowing their limits and double-checking with actual documents or calling the city/county office (which is its own adventure, half the time).
As for those big real estate sites, yeah, I wouldn’t trust them for anything more than a rough idea of where a property line might be. They’re more about curb appeal than legal accuracy. I once saw a listing that showed a neighbor’s driveway as part of the lot for sale... not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Honestly, I wish there was a single source of truth too. But until then, it’s kind of like piecing together a puzzle with half the pieces missing. At least wandering around with a tape measure makes for a good story later.
At least wandering around with a tape measure makes for a good story later.
That’s the truth. I once spent an entire Saturday trying to figure out where a utility easement actually started on my lot—GIS map said one thing, but the stakes in the ground told a different story. Ended up calling the county and getting three different answers depending on who picked up. Honestly, I trust my own measurements more than any online map at this point, but it’s wild how much guesswork is still involved.
Honestly, I’ve had almost the exact same experience. Last year I was out there with my tape, a shovel, and a very confused dog, trying to line up what the plat map said with what I could actually see. Turns out the “official” marker was buried under a pile of leaves and about six inches of dirt. The online maps are nice for a general idea, but when it comes down to it, nothing beats boots on the ground—literally. Still can’t believe how much of this stuff is just educated guessing...
Title: Digging into property easements—anyone else find online tools confusing?
That sounds about right. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to double-check boundaries because the GIS data just didn’t line up with what’s actually out there. Last spring, I was working on a small subdivision and the county’s online parcel map showed an easement running straight through what looked like someone’s vegetable garden. On site, though, the old iron pin was about ten feet off from where the map said it should be. Turns out, the original survey from decades ago was off by a few feet and every digital tool since just copied that error.
Honestly, I trust physical markers way more than any digital overlay. The tech is getting better, but there’s still a lot of “close enough” going on. It’s wild how much depends on whoever last put a stake in the ground... or didn’t bother to mark it at all. Makes you appreciate those survey crews who actually take their time.
Yeah, I’ve run into that too—digital maps are great for a quick look, but I never fully trust them. Have you ever tried reconciling old paper plats with the online stuff? Sometimes they don’t even use the same reference points. Makes me wonder how many properties are just slightly “off” on paper versus reality.
